U14 Oranges v Gartcairn

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Today, U14 Oranges are playing Renfrew Victoria at Scotstoun (our home pitch).

1st Half

We start off the match strong with many shots including crosses, clearing and great tackling. Natalie crosses the ball in and Mila chases it. Mila gets past a defender and shoots straight into the bottom corner (1-0 Phoenix)!

Renfrew Vics quickly get back into the game and find themself with a corner, the corner falls in the box and the Renfrew Vics striker tries to control it but the ball spins and Natalie gets to clear it away. 

Phoenix get a throw in which Abi takes, She throws it in to Sofia and she plays it into the box where Chloe P gets the ball and nutmegs the goalie (2-0 Phoenix)!

2nd Half

Clara gets a free kick and it goes into the box, Skye manages to get a foot on it but Renfrew Vics Goalie manages to pick it up. 

Clara plays it up and Connie takes a shot but it slows down when a defender gets in the way and goalie picks it up. 

Natalie plays the ball down the line and Chloe chases the ball to play it to Arwen who puts it over the bar. 

Renfrew Vics gets through defence and score to make it 2-1.

Arwen gets a break of the ball in our half and runs all the way from before the half way line to use tremendous skill to get past the last  defender and runs all the way up to the goalie. The goalie tried her hardest but couldn’t save it, not once but twice with the same goal, from Arwen (4-1) it finishes!

Player of the match goes to Clara. Full of instruction, encouragement and support for her teammates, she had a tremendous all round performance at CB!

Moment of the match goes to Arwen's tremendous break away goal from well inside our own half. Not only was it a significant distance to run with a player tracking her closely, but she also had a defender and the goalie to beat!

The whole team showed tremendous team spirit and there was a great vibe throughout. Huge shout out to the U12 Pinks who helped out today and showed great character to step up and play 11-a-side football with, and against, older girls and really looked comfortable.

Goals today from:

Mila ⚽

Chloe ⚽

Arwen ⚽⚽

Phoenix line up against Motherwell in a 4-3-3 formation battling against both the weather and top tier opposition.

1st half

Corner for Motherwell after Rachel saves a far shot, but they can’t convert! A bit of end to end play, but Phoenix break the deadlock with a brilliant ball from Aafiyah across the box for Anna to slot it in! 1-0 Phoenix! Ava and Summer working hard down the wings to create chances for Phoenix, but an attack from Motherwell sees a slippery ball trickle in to the net. 1-1. Not long after, a great through ball from Amy means that Summer can shoot and score! 2-1 Phoenix. An exciting game means that Motherwell equalise yet again, and the momentum of Motherwell’s powerful shot unfortunately carried it in. 2-2. Phoenix aren’t giving up though, with good attacking play. Summer chips the goalie to make it 3-2 to Phoenix! Phoenix start again well, and are rewarded when Summer scores from a 1v1 against the goalie for her hat trick! 4-2 Phoenix! 

Second half

Both teams start well, but an attack from Motherwell means it’s 4-3. Motherwell get another goal when their #4 drills a low and hard shot to make the score equal at 4-4. However, a breakaway from Nicole means that Summer can beat the defender and score for 5-4 Phoenix! The game restarts and after a while of battling, a powerful shot from Motherwell means that their striker receives the rebound and loops it into the goal. 5-5. A free kick on the edge of the box for Motherwell but Rachel deals with it no problem! A tense final few minutes but both teams hold on to make the final score 5-5.

Player of the match was Aafiyah today who started in LB then played CDM and was tremendous in both positions. Her relentlessness and tireless running and energy was crucial, particularly as single CDM, to continually turning over Motherwell attacks to move Phoenix forward. Topped off with a wonderful assist for the first goal, it was an exceptional performance.

Honourable mention to Amy in CB in her first start for Phoenix who was a rock at the back, as well as Chloe J. and Ava who made their Phoenix debuts and played extremely well!

Goals today:

Anna ⚽ 

Summer ⚽ ⚽ ⚽ ⚽

Phoenix U14 Pinks start in our favoured 4-3-3 formation in a preseason friendly against an excellent Renfrew side.   

The first half begins with a bit of end to end play with Anna battling against the defence resulting in a corner which Phoenix unfortunately can’t convert. Another great through ball from Summer means Phoenix get a corner but again, nothing comes from it. Renfrew are pushing hard but the score remains 0-0 until they get an indirect free kick from a pass back which results in a goal. 0-1 at 23’. Phoenix are put under continued pressure and Renfrew score a wonder goal from 25 yards out. 0-2 at 34’. 1st half ends  

Second half. Clara makes her debut for Phoenix and does really well in defence showing her strength, ability and equally as important, her communication / talking which are going to be invaluable! Rachel makes an amazing save to keep the score 0-2, and Becky almost scores up the other end! A great corner from Summer means that Renfrew clear it off the line, and Summer almost scores again from far out. The resulting goal kick is pressured by Becky and she scores! 1-2. Nicole almost scores with a powerful shot from 25 yards out but the goalie saves it. A corner for Phoenix means summer’s great in-swinger goes straight into the goal to equal the score! 2-2! After a run of Phoenix pressure, Summer puts it into the back of the net with an outside-of-the-box shot! 3-2. A period of end to end play ends with Summer scoring from wide for her hat trick! 4-2 Phoenix. Anna comes close with a looping shot but the goalie deals with it. Second half ends - final score 4-2 Phoenix!  

Moment of the match goes to Summer’s wonderful in-swinging corner goal which turned the tide and got Phoenix back in the game!  

Player of the match goes to Sofia who’s battling and teamwork was immense today. Playing in the CAM role for most of the match, she found herself naturally coming back to support the CDM and defence, particularly in the first half, and was responsible for numerous interceptions and tackles that resulted in turn over in play to get us back on the front foot! Honourable mention to Anna as well who’s battling in our forward line put the Renfrew defence continually under pressure!  

Scorers today: 

Becky ⚽ 

Summer ⚽⚽⚽

On a horrible day, Phoenix were away to top of the table Calderbraes. An away win for Phoenix would secure 3rd place but a loss would hand Calderbraes the title! 

The first half kicks off, and it’s looking to be an even game between the two sides! Both sides playing a bit choppy but Phoenix holding up well. Phoenix charging up the pitch but nothing comes, as Calderbraes attempt a counter but Rachel deals with it well! Aafiyah comes off after a tough 50/50 challenge, but is eager to get right back on! An even game so far, but 27 minutes in and Summer scores from a powerful shot which the goalie can’t deal with, 1-0 Phoenix! On the brink of half time, Phoenix have a corner. A brilliant delivery from Summer means that Kate can volley it into the goal, as practised in training! 2-0 Phoenix! Half-time.

A lot of pressure from Calderbraes at the start of the second half but Phoenix deal with it. Phoenix get a break where Aisha is fouled, but the score remains 2-0. However, a powerful shot and slippery ball for Rachel to deal with means Calderbraes score after a run of pressure. A very unlucky goal to concede! 2-1. Phoenix change to 5 at the back, with the girls giving it their all! A scramble from a Calderbraes corner but Rachel deals with it on the line! Calderbraes piling on the pressure but Phoenix don’t concede! The game ends 2-1 to Phoenix, who come in 3rd place to end their first full season of 11-a-side on a high! 

Everyone put in immense effort today to seal the win, and worked very hard for the whole season for a well-deserved 3rd place finish.

Player of the match goes to the whole team today as everyone fought for each other and there was a genuine buzz of team spirit throughout the game but particularly at half time!

Goal scorers today:

Summer ⚽ 

Kate ⚽

With a frosted pitch and plenty of gloved hands, Phoenix U14s come up against Sauchie Juniors in what will be the last home game of the Split for Phoenix. A crucial game to earn some points means that the girls will give it everything to move onto the final game with a win. 

Starting in the familiar 4-3-3 formation, Phoenix are pressing early with a close shot from Kate. Plenty of chances for Phoenix and Sauchie scrambling to beat the press, as Phoenix come close with a well-played through ball from Kate to Summer - the resulting corner is saved on the line!  An excellent through ball from Sauchie means their striker goes for a shot 30 yards out, and hits the post for our defence of Natalie, Nicole, Eilidh and Freya to deal with calmly. Rachel’s excellent distribution (yet again) means that Phoenix starts an attack, but Sauchie deal with it and have a near-miss themselves. As the end of the first half comes ever closer, Phoenix aren’t done yet! A beautiful turn from Isla to start an excellent 1-2 from Kate and Summer for Kate to shoot and Becky to get the rebound! 1-0 Phoenix, 34’! First half ends, 1-0 Phoenix. 

No changes as the second half begins, with Sauchie applying the pressure from the start but Phoenix dealing well with it. The girls are throwing everything at Sauchie, with ice packs (surprisingly) coming in handy! We win another corner -a scramble in the box means that Isla gets a shot away that’s once again cleared off the line! Phoenix are knocking at the door. Another chance from Summer’s header but the score remains 1-0. Penalty for Phoenix after a great ball from Rosie to play in Aisha who gets pushed in the box. Unlucky for Neive, whose spot-kick is saved. The game is end to end, but Phoenix push up and are rewarded when Summer scores with her left foot to put Phoenix 2-0 ahead with 5 minutes to go! A bit of pressure from Sauchie close to the end of the game, but they’re no match for our solid defence, which includes Becky playing at right-back for a change. Second half ends, 2-0 Phoenix!

A great effort from all of the girls to take the win, and the focus moves to next week’s big match against league leaders, Calderbraes.

It was a tremendous team effort that all the girls should be proud of and another clean sheet for our defence and goalie, but a very well-deserved player of the match today goes to Isla Shepherd! Another tremendously tenacious game in centre mid where she battled, and won, everything. Her creative side shone through as well with a great tackle, then the composure to turn the opposition player and play the pass to Kate as one of the key moments of play in our first goal.

Goals today from:

Becky ⚽

Summer ⚽

On a cold November morning, Phoenix U14s find ourselves up against a physical Kirkfield team in the third game of the ever-important Split. 

Phoenix start in a slightly different formation to our usual 4-3-3, opting for a transitional 5-2-3 formation, allowing fluidity in our fullbacks to assist both midfield and defence.

Phoenix are pressing “right from the start” (Scott) and win a corner but unfortunately nothing comes from it. Solid defending from the back 5 and Rachel to deny the Kirkfield attack, and Rachel’s distribution means Phoenix win yet another corner, but nothing comes from a close shot from Becky. Isla, in only her 4th game for Phoenix u14s, and Aafiyah are battling well in the midfield. Kirkfield score against the run of play at 12 minutes from a through ball which broke the Phoenix defence. Another goal 5 minutes later for Kirkfield from an unlucky bounce from a corner. Kirkfield have a boost after the double-goals and have a run of possession. Kirkfield can’t convert a corner. A beautiful ball from Summer over the top to find Becky, who hits a powerful shot but unfortunately the keeper saves it. Rachel makes a brilliant save and then distributed it to summer, who plays a perfectly-weighted pass to sofia to finish it! Phoenix score at 23’, 2-1 Kirkfield! Yet another excellent distribution from Rachel means a throw-in for Phoenix up the other end of the pitch. A nervous few minutes for both teams and the run of play is end-to-end, with Kirkfield claiming for a penalty, and the ref having none of it. A close shot from summer who beats the defenders to put the ball slightly over the bar! Elsa and Kate come on for Aafiyah and Sofia, with both causing trouble for the Kirkfield players. Elsa comes close to scoring from a corner, but it goes just wide. A corner for Phoenix which comes to nothing to mark the end of the first half. 

Rachel makes an excellent clearance to start the second half. Kate battling down the line to put a cross in, but nobody’s there to put it into the net. Brilliant work from Isla to win the ball back, but Kirkfield playing well against our defence. Eilidh, Mia, Natalie, Nicole and Mila putting in a shift to keep the score the same. Natalie and Mila both off for Alison and Aafiyah. Becky and Kate working hard against the Kirkfield fullbacks, and an excellent clearance from Alison on her Phoenix u14s debut to get the ball up the pitch! Kirkfield putting the press on our defence and go 3-1 up 13 mins into the second half. Kirkfield winning a lot of the ball with 20 minutes to go. Sofia and Freya go on for Mia and Elsa. Kirkfield controlling the second half but Phoenix giving everything! Phoenix defending the corner well but unfortunately a shot from a Kirkfield player is deflected off Isla and into the goal with 10 minutes to go. Kirkfield piling on the pressure, with Phoenix having a lot of goal kicks. Another goal for Kirkfield which is quickly followed by another right on the final whistle. Final score 5-1

Player of the match goes to Nicole who was solid in CB and also played RB towards the end as we opened up trying to push for a goal.

Also, introducing a players player of the match, as we are discussing it in the car and Summer deserves a mention for her battling and effort which was really appreciated by her teammates.

Goal scorer today was Sofia ⚽

Oh and can’t believe I didn’t mention this earlier but a massive shout out and thank you to Isla Shepherd, Alison Cormack and Elsa Birch from the U12 Blacks. They played very well in a hard fought and physical match, slotting into the team seamlessly! 👏👏👏